These words were probably spoken when Pashur smote him, and put him in prison.

I think our translation of this passage is very exceptionable. My old Bible reads, Thou laddist me aside Lord; and I was lad aside. The original word is yntytp pittithani, thou hast persuaded me, i.e., to go and prophesy to this people. I went, faithfully declared thy message, and now I am likely to perish by their cruelty. As the root htp pathah signifies to persuade and allure as well as to deceive, the above must be its meaning in this place. Taken as in our Version it is highly irreverent. It is used in the same sense here as in Gen. ix. x17: God shall enlarge (persuade, margin) Japheth; and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem.

Jer. 20:1-6 Pashur smote Jeremiah, and put him in the stocks. Jeremia was silent till God put a word into his mouth. To confirm this, Pashu has a name given him, "Fear on every side." It speaks a man not only i distress, but in despair; not only in danger, but in fear on ever side. The wicked are in great fear where no fear is, for God can make the most daring sinner a terror to himself. And those who will not hea of their faults from God's prophets, shall be made to hear them from their consciences. Miserable is the man thus made a terror to himself His friends shall fail him. God lets him live miserably, that he may be a monument of Divine justice.

Jer. 20:7-13 The prophet complains of the insult and injury he experienced. But Jer. 20:7 may be read, Thou hast persuaded me, and was persuaded. Thou wast stronger than I; and didst overpower me by the influence of thy Spirit upon me. So long as we see ourselves in the way of God, and of duty, it is weakness and folly, when we meet with difficulties and discouragements, to wish we had never set out in it The prophet found the grace of God mighty in him to keep him to his business, notwithstanding the temptation he was in to throw it up Whatever injuries are done to us, we must leave them to that God to whom vengeance belongs, and who has said, I will repay. So full was he of the comfort of God's presence, the Divine protection he was under and the Divine promise he had to depend upon, that he stirred u himself and others to give God the glory. Let the people of God ope their cause before Him, and he will enable them to see deliverance.

Jer. 20:14-18 When grace has the victory, it is good to be ashamed of our folly, to admire the goodness of God, and be warned to guard ou spirits another time. See how strong the temptation was, over which the prophet got the victory by Divine assistance! He is angry that his first breath was not his last. While we remember that these wishes ar not recorded for us to utter the like, we may learn good lessons from them. See how much those who think they stand, ought to take heed les they fall, and to pray daily, Lead us not into temptation. How frail changeable, and sinful is man! How foolish and unnatural are the thoughts and wishes of our hearts, when we yield to discontent! Let u consider Him who endured the contradiction of sinners against himself lest we should be at any time weary and faint in our minds under ou lesser trials __________________________________________________________________

Original Hebrew